Cameron U-turns on threat to sack MPs who back Brexit

Prime Minister David Cameron has ‘clarified’ remarks he made to journalists on Sunday when he appeared to threaten to sack Conservative MPs who actively backed the UK’s exit from the EU.

Cameron previously said
his government would not take a “neutral” stance on the
referendum, insisting the party was fully committed to
renegotiating the UK’s relationship with Europe which would allow
them to recommend a ‘Yes’ vote.

Speaking in Germany at the G7 Summit, he warned: “If you want
to be part of the government you have to take the view that we
are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum
and that will lead to a successful outcome.”

Following claims his stance would create divisions within the
party, the PM’s official spokeswoman said on Monday his remarks
had been “over-interpreted.”

She said the referendum process was divided into two sections:
debating the renegotiation Bill and the vote itself. The
spokeswoman said the PM’s threat only applied during the
renegotiation process.

The PM’s comments came after a group of 50 Tory MPs joined a
newly formed group, the Conservatives for Britain (CfB), who aim
to ramp up the pressure on renegotiations during the run up to
the referendum.

On Sunday Cameron said: “Everyone in government has signed up
to the program set out in the Conservative manifesto.”

He added he hoped Tory MPs would not try and amend a reform bill
to attempt to pave the way for the referendum, saying: “We'll
be putting forward the bill that we think is the right bill. It
will be a matter for parliament to discuss and debate it.”

“I am carrying out a renegotiation in the national interest
to get a result that I believe will be in the national interest.
I’m confident I can get that.

“And if I can get a position where Britain would be better
off in a reformed Europe, then obviously that’s not something the
government’s neutral about. It’s not a sort of, ‘On the one hand
... on the other hand,’ approach. It’s that if I can secure what
I want to secure, I will secure what I think is the right outcome
for Britain.

“The government isn't neutral in this. We have a clear view:
renegotiate, get a deal that's in Britain's interest and then
recommend Britain stays in it.”

US President Barack Obama has staged a very public intervention
at the summit, saying he was “looking forward” to the UK
remaining part of the European Union.

“We have no closer partner around the world on a whole host
of issues,” he said.

Obama added: “I would note that one of the great values of
having the United Kingdom in the European Union is its leadership
and strength on a whole host of global challenges, so we very
much are looking forward to the United Kingdom staying part of
the European Union because we think its influence is positive not
just for Europe, but also for the world.”

But the CfB’s Westminster chairman Steve Baker said there were
“dozens” of Conservative MPs who wanted “fundamental
change” and would be willing to vote to quit the EU.

Former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that Cameron’s
“my way or the highway” approach displayed a lack of
confidence in his renegotiation abilities.